Looks like summer (feels like winter)

Heading over the bridge that leads to Assateague Island State and National Parks. Just to the north (left) is Ocean City, Maryland.

Weekly dose of George: Puppyhood

George as a puppy at about 2 1/2 months old. I was looking at old photos of horses from back when we used to live at Northview Stallion Station and came across this one in the files. And it made me smile. Taken with my old Sony Cybershot.

Silent sea

Silent sea tell this to me
Where are the children that we used to be . . .

At picture shows where nobody goes
And only the heart can see.

Starry skies, soft lullabies
Where do they go when their melodies die?
To a day, far, far away
That only the heart may know.
~ Dan Fogelberg

SkeletalMess textures: Optional (linear burn) @ 51% opacity; Washed Out (overlay) @ 23% opacity. Free download {here}.

Rooftop in Philly

On the roof of my niece's apartment building last summer. SkeletalMess texture applied.

I love

I love the Element. And my husband. Loving my dog goes without saying. And I love Assateague Island.

Mosaic Monday: The Beach in Winter

Just an assortment of some photos I took while visiting Assateague Island National Park, about a two hour drive from where I live in Maryland. I have some other photos of the park that I posted on Flickr today, if you're into that sort of thing. Click {here} and then at the top of the page for the slideshow.
Mosaic Monday is hosted weekly by my gracious friend Mary, at Little Red House. Check out her blog for other offerings.

Holy moly, I love guacamole

My husband and I took another road trip today and while driving home, we were listening to an interview on NPR. They were interviewing someone who owned a restaurant called Haute Taco, wherever that is. The only thing that stuck in my mind was the guacamole. And as soon as we got home and unpacked, I went out for the fixins.
Here's the quickie recipe:

GUACAMOLE
2 ripe avocados
1 plum tomato, diced
1 1/2 Tbsp. red onion, finely diced
1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
2 tsp. lime juice
salt & pepper, to taste
Cut avocados in half and scoop into bowl, removing pits. Mash avocado with fork. Add remaining ingredients. Serve with chips.

UPDATE: Found it! I knew it was in Wisconsin somewhere. {Haute Taco}.

Bliss

Oh, how I love lilacs. If they were here now, I would hold them to my face and breathe in their heady aroma. Oh, but I can wait.
If they were here, though, this is what I'd do.
SkeletalMess textures (both new downloads at Shadowhouse Creations): Vintage Tinted Lens, soft light @ 80%; Scratch the Surface 5, hard light @ 60%
Florabella Pure Milk overlay, soft light @ 28%.

Sunset, revisited

I took this photo in February 2008 and am posting it today because it's another I've entered in the group pool at PW's latest photo assignment. I thought we could only submit one photo, but according to the group pool instructions, we can enter one per day. I've taken a couple of nice sunrise/sunset photos but if I could only choose one, the photo on yesterday's post would have been it, just for sentimental reasons.
This was my view out my back door when we lived at Northview Stallion Station outside of Chesapeake City, Maryland. It was 72 degrees that February day and a storm was moving in quickly, making for dramatic skies.

Sunrise, revisited

I was searching through my files this evening for sunrise or sunset photos because I could only enter one in PW's most recent Photo Assignment. I saw her post while at work this afternoon and by the time I got home, there were already over 22,000 submissions. And from what I saw, they are all beautiful. She has her work cut out for her with this one, let me tell you.
This was taken in May 2008 when things were still humming along in our lives and my husband was still employed. I remember being happy. And when I look back on it, it makes me feel good to see this pond in the morning mist with the sun coming up on what would be a beautiful day.
Oh, and I'm still happy. So no worries.

Along the tracks

Crossing the B&O Railroad line on the trail from the Visitor Center at Harper's Ferry National Historic Park to the Old Town.
Florabella's Sweet Vintage, opacity lowered. Florabella's Attache (warm) texture, low opacity, linear burn.

Cat nap on a rainy day

Blackie asleep on the guest bed. Apologies to all visitors who have slept in this bed, but this is what happens when you're not here.
PW's Seventies action, lowered opacity (cat brushed off)
TRA's Yin/Yang (lightened cat)
SkeletalMess' Softly Aged Sepia texture, overlay @ around 60%

Trinity Church Graveyard

Trinity Church, on Wall Street and Broadway, New York. Within its gate, time seemed to stand still. There was a feeling of reverence that I can't explain. And with what's going on in Haiti right now, it feels good to revisit these grounds in my photo files.

Weekly dose of George

There's a light in his eyes and a scent wafting on the evening air. What is that? Why, it's a . . .

SQUIRREL!!!

Sweet treat

I was in the wine store the other day and was once again drawn to a label that caught my eye. The last time this happened, someone ended up naked.

Florabella Retro Vintage action @ 30%
SkeletalMess textures:
Painterly Effect, soft light @ 100%
Bokeh2, soft light @ 72%

Too bad the label was better than the wine. Way too sweet for me.
(And I got you there on the naked thing, didn't I?)

Morning frost

This was what my bedroom window looked like Saturday morning. I think it looks great. I love winter, and huddling under thick blankets to keep warm, wearing mittens and boots and scarves. Call me crazy, but it makes me happy. And then, there is always spring. Glorious.

Little sip

A friend gave this to me to add to my slightly growing collection of teacups. It holds just enough for a sip. Or enough for a couple of shots, depending on who's looking at it. Cheers!
Hope your Monday's in the pink. I'm taking a week off from mosaics.

Crushing on you

I'm crushing on the textures available for free at one of my favorite blogs: Shadowhouse Creations. The ethereal and sensual tones of Jerry Jones' SkeletalMess textures are a must for any library.
That said, for this shot I used Arctic Chill (soft light) @ 100%; Painted Canvas 3 (hard light) @ 17% opacity.
TIPS TO GET A SIMILAR SHOT:
1) Use a zoom lens that has at least 105mm capability. I used a 70-300mm lens for this shot.
2) Hang a bird feeder outside a window you constantly pass during the day.
3) Fill the feeder with sunflower seeds.
4) Whenever you happen to walk by and see a bird, stop and take photos for a few minutes.You can try and wait for them if you want, but this is often futile.
Have fun stormin' the castle! (name that movie)


UPDATE:
My tips above were created rather tongue-in-cheek. For some gorgeous bird photography (and helpful tips) visit Robin at {this link}. I'm now cleaning my windows and getting out the tripod!

Cold day, warm heart

There's ice on the gourd bird house and there's snow on the ground. And in my world, all is well. I love days like this.

Where I work

I took my camera to work today and used the wonky lens that doesn't autofocus anymore. It worked inside! But once I took it outside into the wintry icy air, no worky. But I managed to get a few shots, regardless. I was working on them tonight, trying to decide which was best. It's going to end up in a framed print that we're giving to someone who is retiring. So no pressure here (not) to get it right.
This is a K-12 college preparatory school in Maryland. I've been here for 11 years and both of my sons graduated from here, in 2003 and 2005. It's a great place to work.

Weekly Dose of George

My husband took this photo before we had the big snow at Christmastime. It's a squirrel stare-down.

Evening in Paradise

Taken out in the yard on New Year's Eve. Processed with Florabella's Vintage Wine action. I am searching for a copyright logo that I really like and this is the newest.

New York State of Mind

I took this last September while walking in Central Park with my blogging buddy, Daryl. It was a treat to see these very tall buildings peeking through the trees. I'm reading Jack Finney's Time to Time, the sequel to his Time and Again. Hence the Billy Joel post title.

Mosaic Monday: Backyard Wildlife

So there I was, working on a puzzle and minding my own business. And I look outside and see this squirrel, brazenly sitting on the top of the hook and keeping all the birds away. So of course, I had to get the camera. And this is a small collection of the shots I took. Please remember that I took these photos through a window, hence the blur.
If you'd like to view more offerings of Mosaic Monday, please visit my friend Mary at {Little Red House}. Thanks for hosting, Mary.

Cold snap

This leaf looks like it's covered with spun sugar. And baybee it's cold outside on this beautiful morning in Maryland. Yesterday's muddy trail is now a crunchy frozen one. I love January.
Seriously. I do.
Michelle Black's Vintage Mod action applied; old Ghostbones (now SkeletalMess) texture as well. (The same one I used on the female cardinal, below).